Crankshaft support and grinder



Dec. 11, 15 945- A FUGLIE 2,390,933

CRANKSHAFT SUPPORT AND GRINDER I 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1941 an m FIG. 3.

ELMER A. FUGLIE FIG. 2.

Patented Dec. 11, 1945 CRANKSHAFT SUPPORT AND GRINDER Elmer A. Fuglie, Winona, Minn, assignor to Winona. Tool Mfg. Company, Winona, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Continuation of application Serial No. 405,258,

August 2, 1941.

'1943, Serial No. 499,729

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a crankshaft support and grinder and has for its object to provide a frame having means for holding a grinder adapted to engage the under side of a crankshaft bear ing in combination with a head piece embodying means for holding the crankshaft offset therefrom so that the grinder and the parts connected therewith may be positioned immediately below and in operative engagement with the bearings of the crankshaft.

In the grinding or crankshafts, specifically multi-bearing crankshafts for automobiles, a problem is met in supporting and rotating the crankshaft in a position to be operated upon by the grinder. As is Well known, crankshafts vary very considerably in length, not only due to the number of bearings (corresponding to the number of cylinders of the motor), four, six, eight and twelve, but because gas engines of different manufacturers may also have variations. A grinder therefore, must have adaptability to mount and rotate crankshafts of these varying lengths. Further, it has been found that the most effective way of grinding the crankshaft is by using a flat face of a cylindrical grinder positioned to fall substantially along and parallel with the axial center of the crankshaft bearing. This, in the case of the rod bearings or throw bearmgs, necessitates room for the crankshaft and the operating means therefor to oscillate so asto remain in engagement with the lower portion of the rod bearing throughout the complete circumference of its throw,

It has been proposed under certain conditions to grind crankshafts when being operated upon the gas engine itself. This grinding is from below. but has limitations in operation that make the method unsatisfactory.

It has also been proposed to hold the crankshaft between the head stock and tail stock of an ordinary lathe with, of course, means to adjust the tail stock along the lathe bed and to mount the grinder to operate from above. But this likewise has resulted in unsatisfactory work, because of the difliculty of supporting the grinder operating mechanism without putting too much weight upon the grinder, and the further resulting difficulty of getting a uniform bearing of the grinder upon the crankshaft bearing; and also there are grave difficulties as to available observation space for operation of the grinder mechanism.

I have discovered that all these difficulties may be avoided and successful and effective grinding of the bearings of crankshafts made possible by This application August 23,

providing a supporting head piece having a laterally positioned connector guideway in the form of a long side slot positioned in the head piece, and mounting adjustable brackets therein which carry offset a sufiicient distance laterallyfrom the supporting means a driving head stock and an adjustable tail stock mounting chuck shafts between which the crankshaft is mounted for rotation at a point ofiset laterally a suficient distance from the main supporting means to overlie an open space below the crankshaft, and to mount the grinder and the means for operating the grinder in a position in said open space also offset from the main supporting means and to hold the grinder face against the crankshaft bearing with a fixed and definitely certain predetermined pressure and at the same time give the operatoran abundance of room to work on and with the grinder mechanism.

' It is a principal object of my invention therefore, to provide a frame with upright standards and a sufliciently massive head piece wherein the opening for adjustably mounting th holding means is an elongated slot at the side thereof so that the said holding means may be projected laterally therefrom.

It is a further important object of my invention to provide in conjunction with said head piece and the open slot extending along a side thereof sets of brackets adapted to be adjustably and rigidly secured in said slots and to carry'respectively a driven chuck shaft and also a complementary chuck shaft on the adjustable bracket so that there can be mounted between said chuck shafts and in axial alignment with the axial centers thereof, crankshafts of varying lengths to be rotated by the driven shaft while they are held at a very considerable distance laterally from the head piece which supports them. thus being held. to overlie an open space below the crankshaft in which the grinder assembly is mounted and operates.

It is a further object of my invention to so laterally support the driving means including a prime mover, such as an electric motor. for operating the driven chuck shaft so that the crankshaft as mounted and driven will be at a substantial distance from the supporting head piece and at the same time will be so mounted as to leave large free space below the crankshaft as driven,

It is a further object of my invention to provide on the frame member for supporting the crankshaft a supporting stabilizer shaft'which will be to mount upon said stabilizer shaft for sliding movements therealong and rocking movements thereupon, an assemblage which includes means for supporting the sam upon a crankshaft bearing such as a throw bearing and which presents the grinder face with a predetermined grinding pressuredirectly to the surface of the crankshaft This application is a continuation of application, Serial No. 405,258, filed August 2, 1941, for Crankshaft support and grinder.

The full objects and advantages'of this invention will appear in connection, with thedetailed description thereof given inthe appended specification, and the novel features from which are obtained the advantageous results above noted will be particularly pointed out 'in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating an' application of my invention in one form:

Fig. 1 is a semi-perspective elevation view of mycrankshaft support and grinder as it would appearinuse. f a

Fig. 21s a section on femargee scale; taken on1ine2'2 ofFig.l'. Y

Fig. ,3 is a fragmentaryfsectional elevation view, takenon line 3 3 of Fig.2. l Fig. 4"is a sectionalel'evation view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1',sh'owing the grinder assemblage fioatingly'supported from one 'o'f'the offset or'throw: bearings of the supported crankshaft.

Fig. 5is"a similansection to'that of Fig. 4, showing the entire base frame of the machine in elevation and showingthe grinder unit applied to one of the main bearings."

Fig. 615 a detail view of theelectric motor and supporting shelf which operates the chuck shaft to rotate a crankshaft held to said chuck shaft. Fig. 7. a perspective detail View of the means for locking the holding brackets in operative position.

illustrated, [a massive head piece l6 may have integrally formed therewith correspondingly heavy end standards II and I2, each formed with webs l3 and I4 extending in the longitudinal plane of the-center 'of the head casting I0. The standards II and [2 are provided with bottom plates 15 and 16, each of which'is adapted to' rest upon a transversetable member I! formed between supporting legs I8 and I9 which form stands'in this manner to support the head piece 16." Braces 26 and 2| extend in crossing fashion diagonally from top to bottom of the respective leg members. Thehead piece I0, is in crosssection. in the form of an enlarged oval with a flat back wall 22, a curved top wall 23, a curved bottom wall 24, and end walls 25 and 26. Additional transverse webs of the same shape as the end walls 25 and 26 'may be cast integrally along the central part of the head casting for increasing its strength if desired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the end wells 25 and 26 (and any intermediate webs, if used) are arcuately cut as indicated at 21. Heavy ribs 28 and 29 are formed at the margin of the top and bottom walls 23 and 24, spaced apart so as to leave a longitudinal open channel slot 36 between them. inwardly extending horizontal flanges 3| and 32 provide ledges '33 and 34, extending the length of the channel 36. Powerful doublearmed brackets 35 and 36" are formed with a massive supporting head 3|,'Fig. 2, which engages a plate 38 adapted to be inserted to contact the ledges 33 and'34 asshown in Fig. 2. Bolt means 39 extending through the head membe;' 31 secures the brackets 35 and 36 rigidly in any desired position along the channel slot 30.

' Rods 36' are secured to the brackets 35 and 36 shaft 46 any crankshaft such as 48 and holding it positioned for rotation, by means of motor 42, in a position above an open space between the crankshaft so mounted and the floor, and in convenient position relative to the eyes of the operator for close inspection during the grinding operation.

a A stabilizer shaft 49 is held rigidly mounted at its ends as indicated at 56 and 5|,Fig. 1, in the base supports 15 and I6 of the standardsdi and 12, respectively. This shaft is strong. and milled perfectly round and hasmounted thereon an elongated bearing member '52, Figs. 1 and 4. The bearing member 52 has secured thereto a bracket 53 which supports an elongated tubular guide 54, Figs. 1 and 4. This arrangementv thus permits the guide 54 to be moved longitudinally along the stabilizer shaft 48 and also to oscillate on it. 1

A stem or slide 56 carries atits upper end an extension bracket 55, Fig. 4. The stem 56 .is mounted in and movable lengthwise alonglthe tubular guide member 54. The extension bracket 55 has its upper and lower faces extending.. ,between and held in position by the'respective lower and upper faces of a pair of projecting 111g members 5'! and 58 fast on a grinder assembly frame work 59, on which is supported a motor 661' A shaft 6!, best shown in Fig. 4, is slidably mounted in and to extend through alined openings through the lugs 51 and 58, through the intervening extension bracket" member 55 and through a positioningor bearing portion 66 connected with a lug extension 61 On the frame 59.

The shaft has rigidly secured thereto an upper spring-receiving collar 63 and :freely slidable thereon a lower spring-receiving collar 64. A spring 62 between collars 63 and 64 holdsgthe collar 64 in engagement'with the upper surface oflug5'l. j l

The shaft 6! has secured thereto at its upper end a hook H provided with upper ball bearings 16 and roller bearings 12 and 13 adapted to' engage the surface of the crankshaft bearing below a horizontal element thereof. The hook ll has a swinging part 15 which is adapted to be held in clasping relation by the clasp spring 14. ,In this way the weight of the grinder assembly" is entirely supported-by direct downward thrust upon the bearings 16,, and laterally by the rollers 72 and 13.

The grinder frame 59 houses the driven shaft 10 of motor 60, which shaft has on its upper ,end a grinder 68, which inpractice will preferably be a cylindrical member with a plane top face made up of carborundum or other abrasive material. A thumb nut 65 threaded on the lower end of shaft 6| may cause said shaft to move in either direction through the severalopenings in members 55, 51, 58, and 61; When the hook member H, 15 is in position upon a crankshaft hearing such as 69 it will be apparent that this action will cause the face of the grinder-jute move toward or from the lower surface of the crankshaft bearing. As it moves toward the crankshaft bearing the spring 62 will be compressed. This spring is a fairly strong spring and is always under compression when the grinder is brought into operative position in reference toa crankshaft hearing. The effect is to hold'the grinder assembly with a yielding but persistent force against the threads of the screw 65.

From the above arrangement it will be clear .that as a throw bearing revolves, the crankshaft assemblage may rise and fall with the sliding of the stem 56 in the guide 54 and may rock back and forth by reason of the mounting of the sleeve 7 .54 upon the stabilizer shaft 49, so that the grinder shaft may partake of the up and down and oscillating movement of the crankshaft bearing to which it is applied. The frame 59 and motor 60 connected thereto and shaft 10 for driving the grinder 68, are all supported for lateral oscillating movements upon the projections 51, 58 and 61, Fig. 4. Also, the grinder disc 68 is of considerably less diameter than the distance between the bearing checks of the crankshaft. This enables the operator by grasping the frame member 59 to oscillate the face of the grinder upon the surface of the throw bearing 69.

When it is desired to operate the grinder assemblage upon a main bearing the grinder assemblage will be held against up-and-down and oscillating movement by the following means. A bracket 1'! is provided with an extension 18 forming a hook-line projection over the longitudinal rib 29. A screw member 19 is adapted to be actuated by a thumb nut 80 and is adapted to engage with its upper end 8| the upper rib 28. By this means, the bracket 1'! can be held rigidly secured to th head piece H) in any adjusted position in the plane of the shaft iii of the grinder assemblage. Clamp members 82 and 83, Fig. 7, are pivotally mounted at 84 to a lug 85 on the bracket ll. These clamp members are spaced apart as indicated and are adapted to be swung into the position shown in Fig. 4, embracing the shaft 6 I. These members frictionally engage the shaft 6| with a sufficient grip to hold it from any movement and a set-screw 85 may be employed to hold the members in rigid clamping position.

The advantages of my invention have been quite clearly pointed out in the appended specification. The fundamental and primary advantage is that it provides a means of supporting a crankshaft in a position directly above a free space extending from the crankshaft to the floor so that within this free space the grinder assemblage may be mounted for its lateral movements to connect it with any bearings of such supported grinder shaft and for its normal operation in effecting the grinding operation, all in a position where the operator has easy access to all parts of the grinder assemblage and has the bearings being ground positioned in his line of vision.

These advantages are what makes possible the grinding of crankshafts separated from a, motor from below wherein the crankshaft grinder is yieldingly held against the under side of the crank bearing in all of its positions.

I claim:

1. A crankshaft grinder, comprising a frame formed with end standards and an enlarged tubelike head piece, an open slot extending along a mounted in said bracket piece and adapted to hold a crankshaft in a position overlying an open space extending between the crankshaft and the floor, means having operative connection with said chuck, shafts for rotating them and the crankshaft held therebetween, a stabilizer shaft supported by the standards and extending across said space, and a grinder and means for rotating the grinder while held upon the crankshaft and said stabilizer shaft for grinding the crankshaft. 2. A crankshaft grinder, comprising a frame formed with end standards and an enlarged tubelike head piece, an open slot extending along a side of said head piece, bracket members adjustably mounted in said slot upon said head piece to extend laterally therefrom, chuck shafts mounted in said bracket members and adapted to hold a crankshaft in a position overlying an open space extending between the crankshaft and the floor, means for locking said chuck shafts in adjusted position to hold the crankshaft properly positioned above said open space, a motor mounted on the frame having operative connection with one of said chuck shafts for rotating them and the crankshaft held therebetween, a stabilizer shaft held at one side of said open space, a grinder held thereon, and means for moving the grinder alon said stabilizer shaft and suspending it from a selected crankshaft with the grinder .below and in contact therewith.

3. A crankshaft grinder, comprising a frame formed with end standards and an enlarged tubeside of said head piece, bracket members adlike head piece, an open slot extending along a side of said head piece, bracket members adjustably mounted in said slot upon said head piece to extend laterally therefrom, chuck shafts mounted in said bracket piece and adapted to hold a crankshaft in a position overlying an open space extending between the crankshaft and the floor, means for locking said chuck shafts in adjusted position to hold the crankshaft properly positioned above said open space, means having operative connection with said chuck shafts for rotating them and the crankshaft held therebetween, a stabilizer shaft held at one side of said open space, and a grinder assemblage including a flat-faced disc grinder slidably supported on said stabilizer shaft, means for holding said face yieldingly against the under side of the crankshaft bearing and a motor for rotating the grinder, said assemblage being mounted in said open space.

4. A crankshaft grinder, comprising a frame formed with end standards and an enlarged tubelike head piece, an open slot extending along a side of said head piece and having interior and exterior bearing surfaces at its margins, bracket members having flanges adapted to engage the outer bearing surface, a plate engageable with the inner bearing surface and screw bolts for drawing the flanges of the bracket member and portions of said plate in firm contact with said bearing surfaces to adjustably mount the brackets on the head piece, said brackets extending laterally therefrom and having mounted thereon chuck shafts for holding a crankshaft in a position overlying an open space extending between the crankshaft and the floor, and a, grinder assemblage supported in said open space and held for operation of the grinder thereon upon the under side of a crankshaft bearing.

5. A crankshaft grinder, comprising a frame formed with end standards and an enlarged tubelike head piece, an open slot extending along a side of head piece, means adjustably mounted in said slot for holding a, crankshaft in'a position overlying an open space extending between the crankshaft and the floor, said means being positioned at a height to bring the cranks on the crankshaft in general alignment with the eyes-of an operator in front of the apparatus, means for rotating the crankshaft as so held, a plane-faced grinder disc of considerably less diameter than the distance between the bearing cheeksof th'e crankshaft, meansfor holding said face upon able journal brackets supported from the track of said support, and said track extending along a. side of said support, said journal brackets adapted to support chuck and spindle means for holding a crankshaft and the lik rotatable between said bearing brackets, means for rotating the crankshaft while supported between the bearing brackets, a horizontally extending stabilizer shaft rigidly secured to said support and lying in a plane parallel to the track of said support, a journal bracket extending about said stabilizer shaft and slidably supported thereon, a grinder unit for grinding the bearings of the crankshaft, a stabilizer rod rigidly secured to said grinding unit and being slidably supported in said journal bracket, and means for locking said grinder unit in operative position while grinding a, bearing.

ELMER. A. FUGLIE. 

